Makerfield byelection: Andy Burnham says win over Reform UK could be ‘turning point’ for country – UK politics live

From 17m agoBurnham said the vote against Labour at the local elections was “a loud cry for change”. He went on:

double quotation markWe have begun to answer that to that.

But I do say to my own party - this is a final chance to change.

This is what people said directly to me on the hundreds of doorsteps that I stood on.

We must hear it. We must act upon it, and we must get it right.

There will be no second chance, but it is a chance now, from this result tonight, to build a new politics based on unity and hope, turning away from the path that takes us to a divided, politics of the kind we’ve seen in the United States. We must now take this path and put this country back on the right path, and bring people back together and get things working properly again.

Andy Burnham stands beside candidate Count Binface, left, and a candidate for Protect British Wildlife. Photograph: Jon Super/APKey events5m agoFull results of Makerfield byelection - with Labour on 55%, and Reform UK on 35%12m agoBurnham says north of England needs 'big change at national level', and returning to Westminster 'unfinished business'17m agoBurnham says Labour now has 'final chance to change' and 'must act upon it'21m agoBurnham says he will 'focus on problem solving rather than point scoring'25m agoBurnham says he wants to put 'Makerfield test' at heart of British politics29m agoBurnham says he hopes his win will be 'turning point', and Makerfield will be 'synonymous with change'33m agoBurnham elected MP for Makerfield with majority of more than 9,00054m agoMinister Mike Tapp criticises calls for Starmer to hand over to Burnham, saying that would trigger 'credible calls' for election1h agoTories say Aberdeen South their first Westminter byelection gain in Scotland for almost 60 years1h agoNandy dismisses claim Burnham only winning in Makerfield because Restore Britain split rightwing vote1h agoRupert Lowe claims Restore Britain's vote in Makerfield 'much better' than he expected2h agoSNP hold Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, with Labour pushed into 4th place - results in full2h agoBurnham ally Louise Haigh says Starmer should agreed to 'orderly and managed transition' of power2h agoTories win Aberdeen South with majority of 6,050 - results in full2h agoSNP concedes Aberdeen South with Scottish Conservatives set to win2h agoReform UK 'very happy' to come a strong second in Makerfield, says Sarah Pochin3h agoReform UK gloomy about prospects in Makerfield, as one party source says Labour ahead by 2,500 votes3h agoTurnout in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry byelection 31.4% - down almost 30 points from general election3h agoTurnout in Makerfield 58.75% - six points up on general election3h agoNandy says Labour 'cautiously optimistic' about Makerfield, and Burnham beat expectations pulling back Reform voters4h agoSNP reportedly worried they could lose Aberdeen South to Tories4h agoReform UK's Sarah Pochin defends video urging England team to 'keep winning' to stop domestic violence escalating5h agoWill Makerfield really be the most consequential byelection in British history?5h agoWhat polls have said about likely voting in Makerfield5h agoHow Makerfield, Aberdeen South, and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry voted in 20245h agoReform UK's Robert Kenyon says he's confident of getting 'big vote' in Makerfield byelection5h agoDeputy Labour leader Lucy Powell says Labour has spoken to 'record number of residents' in 'positive campaign'6h agoBurnham brings in top economists before possible leadership run6h agoPolls close in historic Makerfield byelection that could see Andy Burnham elected and pave way for end of StarmerRobert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate who came second, did not give a speech at the count.Here are the Makerfield results in full from the Press Association.Lab holdAndy Burnham (Lab) 24,937 (54.82%, +9.62%)Rob Kenyon (Reform) 15,696 (34.51%, +2.71%)Rebecca Shepherd (Restore) 3,111 (6.84%)Michael Winstanley (C) 997 (2.19%, -8.68%)Sarah Wakefield (Green) 308 (0.68%, -3.73%)Jake Austin (LD) 163 (0.36%, -6.43%)Count Binface (Binface) 95 (0.21%)Howling Laud Hope (Loony) 45 (0.10%)John Dyer (Ind) 37 (0.08%)Peter Ward (Rejoin) 35 (0.08%)Dan Clarke (Libertarian) 18 (0.04%)Ed Gemmell (Climate) 18 (0.04%)Robert Pownall (Ind) 18 (0.04%)Paul Gould (Ind) 8 (0.02%)Lab maj 9,241 (20.32%)3.45% swing Reform to LabElectorate 77,478; Turnout 45,486 (58.71%, +6.31%)Burnham said there were many places in the country like Makerfield, where people feel neglected and as if the system does not work for them.He concluded:

double quotation markAnd that changes tonight. This result changes that. This result will bring about a country that works fairly for everywhere and for everybody.

People here have voted for change. They voted for more power for the north and everywhere forgotten by Westminster. They have voted for hope.

Now let’s give that back to them.

Burnham said it would be a “wrench” to give up his job as mayor of Greater Manchester.He went on:

double quotation markBut I am not leaving the service of Greater Manchester.

I’ve always been clear that it can’t achieve everything it should be, and we can’t close the North-South divide, and we can’t make all the great English cities be what they should be, without big change at the national level.

I always knew one day I would seek to go back to Westminster to complete that unfinished business, so that Makerfield and Greater Manchester and the north of England can fulfil their potential.

Burnham said the vote against Labour at the local elections was “a loud cry for change”. He went on:

double quotation markWe have begun to answer that to that.

But I do say to my own party - this is a final chance to change.

This is what people said directly to me on the hundreds of doorsteps that I stood on.

We must hear it. We must act upon it, and we must get it right.

There will be no second chance, but it is a chance now, from this result tonight, to build a new politics based on unity and hope, turning away from the path that takes us to a divided, politics of the kind we’ve seen in the United States. We must now take this path and put this country back on the right path, and bring people back together and get things working properly again.

Andy Burnham stands beside candidate Count Binface, left, and a candidate for Protect British Wildlife. Photograph: Jon Super/APBurnham said he would be an MP for all people in the constituency. He said:

double quotation markAs your member of Parliament, I know people who traditionally vote for the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and perhaps more recently in May for Reform UK have given me their support in this election.

I will always have respect to them … out of respect for them, I will always take a place first rather than a party first approach.

And I will focus on problem solving rather than point scoring.

And I will work hard after this by election to heal the divisions of this campaign and let it be really understood that I will be your MP however you voted.

Andy Burnham giving his victory speech. Photograph: Temilade Adelaja/ReutersBurnham says he is proud people have seen the best of the constituency.

double quotation markI am proud that this place has shone in the world’s spotlight these last five weeks, and the warm humour and hospitality of its people has been on show for all to see.

And he addresses the claim he is just using the constituency as a stepping stone.

double quotation markIt will never be a stepping stone to me, but instead will be my touch stone.

And he says he wants to put the “Makerfield test” at the heart of British politics, to places neglected by Westminster get their say.By Makerfield test, he means that if a policy will not benefit Makerfield, and places like it, it should not happen.Andy Burnham giving his victory speech. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PABurnham is speaking now.He says:

double quotation markEveryone knows that politics isn’t working. Everyone can feel that the country isn’t where it should be.

Tonight could, just could, be the turning point.

From here on, I will give everything I have got to make it so, to ensure the name, Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs, bringing back something we’ve lost, hope. A hope for the future.

At the count Andy Burnham was about to make his victory speech, but he was interrupted by someone making some sort of complaint about him, relating to a nuclear power plant, I think.Here is more detail on the figures.Labour won 54% of the vote to Reform UK’s 35%, while Restore Britain secured 7%. Turnout was 58.75% – six points up on the general election, with 45,510 votes cast.